Cable-tramway.



PATBNTED JUNE 2, 1903.

W. DUSEDAU; CABLE TRAMWAY. 7 APPLICATION rimm nov. 25. 1902.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

. 1m monnp xckgk AT RNEYS.

PATENTBD' JUNE 2', 19036 No. 729,558; I I

w:. DU'SEDAU. CABLE TRAMWAY. APPLICATION rmm nqv. 25,.1902.

- 3 slinm'ssnnm 2 Nb MODEL.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR'. $5 M W 7; z t (a QW M C ATTORNEY; A

No. 729,558. PATENTED JUNE 2', 1903.

' w. DUSEDAU'.

CABLE TRAMWAY.

, APPLICATION FILED K0125. 1902. v no MODEL. 3' SHEETS-SHEET a.

WITNESSES: I INVENTDR.

. ATT NEYS.

UNITED STATES,

Patented June 2, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

CABLE-'li'RAMWAY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 729,558, dated June 2, 1903.

Application filed November 25, 1902. Serial No. 132,803 (No model.)

To all whom it natty concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM DUSEDAU, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Den:

ver, in the county of Arapahoe and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and use- ,ments in gripping mechanism forelevated' rope tramways, the construction and advantages of which will be hereinafter set forth, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,-in Which Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view taken centrally through the gripping mechanism. Fig. 2 is a front face view of the same. Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 1 l of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a view, partly in section, of the toggle. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of part of one jaw-lever. Fig. 6 is an elevation of a platelink. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of a springlink. Fig. 8 is a plan view of the attaching mechanism. Fig. 9 is a plan view of the detaching mechanism, and Fig. 10 is a diagram matic view showing the automatic alining mechanism.

The objects of my invention are to simplify the method of attaching and detaching cars to the traction or moving rope, to improve the adj ustability of the gripping mechanism, to insure a more positive grip on the traction-rope under variation in its size, to provide an automatic device for bringing the jaws into alinement with the traction-rope,

to makeposit-ive'and-to simplify the method of adjusting the jaws for-"variation inthe size;

of the traction-rope, to take up for wear in the jaws, and to simplify the alining lugs.

Other advantages are present and will appear in the following description.

Referring to the drawings, A denotes the outer hanger or grip-case, which is formed with a relatively large transverse opening having rotatably mounted therein a'shell or casingdesigned to hold the gripping mechanism.

The grippingmechanism carried by the rotatable'shell or casing B comprises two jaws 0 and D, said-jaws being preferably formed upon theo'uterends of levers E and F and being actuated thereby. Levers E and F are fulcrumed upon a pin G, which is mountcentric portion in position.

ed in and carried two outwardly-project- Zing lugs or arms H, formed on the rotatable "with lever F by screws or pins N, secured in pin I. As long as pins N remain in place stud K retains its adjusted position and the position of eccentric J with relation to lever F remains unchanged. The operator can readily make any desired change of adjustment by removing one of the pins N, which will permit a lateral shifting of the parts alongpivot-pinIandaconsequent withdrawal of stud K from its recess preparatory to being passed into another. The inner end of lever E has a pin 0 passed through it, said pin being of the same construction as pin I and having similar means for securing its ec A pair of flat links P, each having an elongated opening Q in its upper end, is mounted on pin I, and a secondpair of spring-links R, preferably of the form illustrated in Fig. 7,is likewise mounted on said pin; All three sets of links M, P, and R are :connected at their adjacent ends to a pivot-pin S. -An eyebolt T is 'also mountedon said pin Sand extends outwardly therefrom, being swiveled in a hearing formed in the lower arm of a lever U, fulcrumed on the frame A at V. Several plates or washers W X are placed onthe eye bolt T, and by shifting these washers from one side to the other of the lever the center of the pin S may be moved outwardly or inwardly in order to bring it into proper adjustment with reference to the centers of the eccentric pivot-pins I and O. The nut Z upon the outer end of the swivel-eyeholt is kept from tightening or loosening by a pin Z.

Lever F is provided witha boss at, which bears against the lower end of lever U when the jaws are closed, as shown in Fig. 1, and by this construction it will be seen that lever openings, as

U always occupies the same position when the jaws are in their closed position. Lever U is provided at apoint adjacent to its -fnlcrum with two bosses b c, which coact with a springplate d, carried by the frame A. and serve normally to keep said lever from throwing itself back into its closed position, thus keeping the-jaws open and ready to receive the traction-rope. Formerly it was the custom to use links all of a definite length and non-compressible. In such case if the traction-rope happened to be smaller in diameter in some places than in others and the jaws C D were adjusted to the gripping pressure required on a part of the rope havinga larger diameter it is evident that when the grip was closed on that part of the rope having the smaller diameter the gripping pressure would not he as great and the grip would be liable to slip. Also, if the jaws were adjusted to the smaller diameter of the rope and then closed on a larger portion, there being no flexible part in the gripping mechanism, it would be overstrained and liable to breakage. To overcome this, I prefer to use links made of spriug-steel or other flexible material, so that through a certain limit of difference in diameter in the traction rope the springlink will cause the gripping pressure to remain about the same. To limit the amount the spring-links may compress and to insure a grip on the traction-rope in case the springlinks lose their expansive property, I employ the flat links P, having elongated or slotted above described. Formerly guide-rollers mounted upon the inner casing B were used for the purpose of rotating and bringing said inner casing and the jaws into alinement with the traction-rope. I prefer to use simple alinement lugs or shoes (1 for this purpose, they being easier to manufacture and fully answering the purpose.

Heretofore it has been necessary for the operator to rotate the shell B by hand in order to bring thejaws into approximate alinement with the traction-rope before attaching the jaws tosaid rope. In order to do this automatically and positively, I make use of a bar 7', projecting from the shell B, and two bars 5 and i, bent to such a shape that as the grip mechanism passes them they will engage the bar as shown in Fig. 10, and cause shell B to rotate. The bars and t may be so bent and placed as to bring the jaws O and D into alinement with the traction-rope u.

The method of attaching or clamping the gripping mechanism to the traction-rope is shown in Fig. 8. As the tramway-car of which this gripping mechanism is a part is moving along its track in the direction of the arrow the lever U strikes a suitably-placed inclined plateH, which forces said lever outwardly, thereby closing the jaws C and D upon the traction-rope.

The method of detaching the gripping mechanism from the traction-rope is shown in Fig. 9. As the car is being propelled in the direction of the arrow the lever U strikes an inclined plate I, suitably placed, which forces said lever inwardly, thereby opening the jaws O and D and'releasing the traction-rope.

It is manifest that the details of the invention maybe varied without departing from the spirit thereof. For inst ance,it is not essential that the specific form of spring-link herein shown and described be used, nor is the particular form of slot-and-pin connection used for the eccentric absolutely essential. Instead of employing two rigid and two spring links with the slotted plate links springlinks may be used in connection with both of the levers, with corresponding plate-links or their equivalents to limit the strain or stress to be placed upon the spring-links. Certain other. portions of the invention may likewise be modified as desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In combination with ahangeror casing, a shell or sleeve rotatably mounted therein; gripping-levers fulcrumed upon said sleeve; links connecting the outer ends of the levers; an operating device for said links fulcrumed upon the hangeror casing; and a pivotal connection between said device and the links.

2. In combination with a hanger, a shell or sleeve rotatably mounted therein; gripping- ]evers fulcrumed upon said shell or sleeve; links connecting the outer ends of said levers; an operating device fulcru med upon the hanger; and aswivel connection between said device and the links, substantially as described.

3. In combination with a hanger, a shell or sleeve rotatably mounted therein; grippinglevers fulcrumed upon said shell; links connecting the ends of said levers; an operating device fulcrumed upon the hanger; a swivel connect ion between said device and thelinks; and means for holding the jaws of the levers apart against accidental closing,substantially as described.

4. In combination with a hanger, a shell or sleeve mounted therein; a pair of grippinglevers fulcrumed upon said shell; spring-links connected to one of said levers; non-yielding links connected to the other lever; and operating means connected to said links, substantially as described, whereby the gripping action of the jaws may be varied without unduly straining the parts.

5. In combination with asuitable support, gripping-levers fulcrumed thereon; yielding connections for operating said levers; and means for actuating said yielding connections.

6. In combination with a sleeve or shell, gripping-levers fulcrumed thereon; yielding links pivotally attached to the end of one of said levers; fixed links connected to the end of the other lever; means for operating said links to close the jaws; and means for preventing undue strain from being placed upon said yielding links.

'7. In combination witha shell or sleeve, gripping-levers fulcrumed thereon; a pair of spring-links pivotally connected to the end of one of said levers; a pair of solid links likewise .pivotally connected to said levers and provided with means for permitting slight play of said links relatively to the pivot thereof; noneyielding links connected to the end of the other lever; a pivotal connection between the adjacent ends of said three sets of links; and means for operating the links to open or to close the jaws, substantially as described.

8. I11 combination with a shell or sleeve, a pair of gripping-levers fulcrumed thereon; a pair of spring-links pivotally connected to one of said levers; a second pair of linksconnected to said lever and provided with elongated slots or openings; fixed links pivotally connected to the other lever; a pivot-pin connecting the adjacent ends of said sets of links; a bolt connected to said pin; and means for moving said bolt to actuate the links and to open and close the jaws.

9. In combination with a hanger, a shell or sleeve mounted therein; a pair of grippinglevers fulcrumed upon said sleeve; a pair of spring-links pivotally connected to one of said levers; a second pair of links likewise connected to said lever and provided with elongated slots; a pair of fixed links connected to the end of the other lever; a pivot-pin connecting the adjacent ends of said sets of links; a lever fulcrumed upon the hanger; and a bolt connected to the link-connecting pin, said bolt being swiveled in the lever,

substantially as described.

10. In combination with a hanger, a shell or sleeve mounted therein; a pair of grippinglevers fulcrumed upon said shell or sleeve;

yielding links connected to one of said levers;

fixed links connected to the opposite lever; a pivotal connection between the adjacent ends of said levers; an operating arm or le-, ver fulcrumed upon the hanger; aswivel connection between said lever and the pivot-pin of the links; aspring secured to the hanger; and bosses carried by the operating arm or lever, coacting with said spring to hold the jaws against accidental closing.

11. In combination with a hanger, a shell or sleeve mounted therein; a, pair of levers fulcrumed upon said shell or sleeve; links connecting the inner ends of said levers; a lever fulcrumed upon the hanger; connections intermediate said lever and the links; and a boss or projection formed upon the inner end of thelowermost gripping-lever, said boss coactin g with the operating-lever, whereby said gripping-lever will always be brought to the same position when the jaws are in their closed position, substantially as described.

12. In combination with a sleeve or shell, gripping-levers fulcrumed thereon; eccentric pivot-pins mounted in the outer ends of said levers; a pin or stud carried by each of said pivot-pins and being adapted to be passed into one of a series of openings formed in line therewith in the levers; and means for vers having transverse openings in their outer ends; eccentric-pins passing through said openings; a stud or pin secured 1n each of said eccentric pivot-pins in line with a series of openings formed in the side faces of each of the arms or levers; links connected to said pivot-pins; means for holding said links in position close to the levers; and means for operating the links.

14. In combination with a gripping-jaw, an eccentric pivot-pin passing therethrough; and a stud or pin carried by said pivot-pin and designed to be passed into one or another of a series of openings formed in the lever,whereby the position of the eccentric with relation to the lever may-be changed and maintained as desired.

15. In combination with a pair of grippingjaws, an eccentric pivot-pin passing through the end of each of said jaws or levers; means for varying the position of said eccentrics to said jaws and maintaining them in position; links connected to said pivot-pins; a third pivot-pin passing through the adjacent ends of said links; a bolt pivotally connected to said third pin; a lever for actuating said bolt;

and means for varying the position of said bolt with reference to the pivot-pin to which the bolt is connected, substantially as and for the purpose described.

16. In combination with a hanger, a shell or sleeve rotatably mounted therein; gripping-jaws carried by said shell or sleeve; means for operating said jaws; and a barr extending outwardly from the shell in line with guides or ways, whereby the shell may be rotated to bring the gripping-jaws into parallelism with the rope or cable, substantially as described. I

17. In combination with a hanger, a shell or sleeve rotatably mounted therein; grippin g-jaws carried by said shell or sleeve; and fixed shoes extending out from the shell or sleeve at a point in line with the upper faces of the operating portions of the jaws, said shoes being arranged to bear upon the cable to be gripped and to properly position the same with relation to the jaws as they are closed thereon.

18. In combination with a hanger, a cablegripping mechanism carried thereby; a lever fulcru med upon the hanger and in operative connection with the gripping mechanism; and an incline H arranged adjacent to the cableway, said incline being adapted and designed to pass in between the upper end of the lever and the hanger to close the grip upon the cable, substantially as described. 7

19. In combination with a hanger, a rotatable shell or sleeve carried thereby; gripping mechanism fulcrumed upon said sleeve;

an operating lever fulcrumed upon the hanger; and operative connections intermediate said lever and the gripping mechanism, the upper end of said lever standing away from the hanger when the gripping mechanism is closed upon the cable, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM DUSEDAU.

Witnesses:

GEORGE Z. DIMMITT, JOHN C. M NROE. 

